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Across Nigeria, women leaders and advocates have called on girls to be bold, break barriers, and challenge the cultural and structural obstacles that limit their potential.

The charge came during events held nationwide to commemorate the 2025 International Day of the Girl Child, themed “The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead: Girls on the Frontlines of Crisis.”

In Abuja, the senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, decried the deep-rooted cultural conditioning that teaches girls to embrace shame and silence instead of confronting injustice or asserting their worth.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, who recently returned to the Senate on October 7, 2025, after a six-month suspension, spoke at a mentorship and interactive session tagged “An Evening with Senator Natasha.”

“It’s important to identify the girl that I am. Many of us grow up without ever taking the time to understand who we truly are,” she said. “Society defines and shapes us from childhood, and we’re rarely given the chance to think for ourselves. Before you figure out your career or the change you want to make, you must first know who you are.”

She lamented the social expectations that limit women’s ambitions, saying, “Women have been raised to take the shame, wear the blame, and zip their mouths shut. But that ends with us. We must be bold, audacious, and fearless—to break barriers and climb higher mountains.”

The event brought together over 50 young women from across Nigeria for conversations on self-discovery, leadership, and empowerment.

Among the speakers was anti-human trafficking advocate Yakubu Oyiza Hope, who shared her survival story from abduction and violence to becoming a voice for victims.

Participants described the session as “eye-opening and transformative,” urging the senator to establish a formal mentorship initiative to sustain the impact.

In Rivers State, stakeholders renewed calls for increased investment in girls’ education, healthcare, and leadership opportunities.

Wife of the Chairman of Tai Local Government Area, Dr (Mrs) Winnieenu Mbakpone, made the appeal at an event held at Gbene Giniwa Hall, Saakpenwa, to commemorate the day.

She urged collective action to empower girls, particularly in communities facing social and economic challenges.

“This day shines a light on the unique challenges girls face across the world,” she said. “It reminds us of our collective duty to empower them through access to education, healthcare, and opportunities that enable them to thrive.”

Mrs Mbakpone presented gifts—including toiletries, books, and cash—to girls and their guardians to support their education and well-being.

Chairman of the council, Mbakpone Okpe, advised the girls to uphold discipline, character, and godly values as foundations for success in a fast-changing world.

In her keynote presentation, Justice Lemea Ngbor encouraged the girls to embrace leadership and see themselves as agents of social transformation.

In Kaduna, a Non-Governmental Organisation, Women Advocacy and Voter Education Nigeria, called for stronger national commitment to end entrenched gender bias and improve protection for the girl child.

Its Founder and President, Comrade Maryam Gali, made the appeal during an outreach programme at Government Secondary School, Ungwan Boro, where the group distributed sanitary pads, exercise books, pens, and cash to hundreds of female students.

“Gender inequality remains deep-seated in our society,” Gali said. “It starts from our homes, is reinforced in schools, and even extends to religious institutions. These biases continue to undermine girls’ confidence and limit their opportunities to lead.”

While commending the Federal Government for enacting the Child Rights Act in 2003, Gali expressed concern over poor implementation in many states, which she said allowed issues such as child marriage, abuse, and educational deprivation to persist.

“Many states have yet to fully enforce the Act. That is why child marriage and denial of education continue to plague our girls,” she added, urging traditional and religious leaders to help dismantle norms that silence or sideline girls.

One of the beneficiaries, Miss Perseverance Sunday, a Senior Secondary School 2 student, expressed joy at the outreach.

“I’m very happy for what they did for us,” she said. “We are encouraged to work harder and reminded that we can achieve great things if we stay focused.”

Source: https://punchng.com/be-fearless-break-barriers-natasha-others-urge-girls

By having four children for four different men?

I dey always love this woman politics from day one and I believe her.

Encouraging your gals to be feminists and not bow for their may counterparts I pity those gals. A woman can never rule Nigeria. It will never happen only a calm woman like okonjo owella we might consider

Brendaniel:
Though she has her issues, but I will prefer her as senate president than almost all the men currently in the senate, she will do better challenging the evil in Aso rock and some of the ills of this Tinubu's administration.

What evil us in aso rock Nigeria need a moan like tinubu to withstand the northern dominance someone who is not afraid of the north but ruling with fairness and equity. The north are regretting handing power to tinunbu because he is the liberator oft the south .

Tinubu is already preparing Nunu Ribadu for 2031

Freshtruth:
What evil us in aso rock Nigeria need a moan like tinubu to withstand the northern dominance someone who is not afraid of the north but ruling with fairness and equity. The north are regretting handing power to tinunbu because he is the liberator oft the south .

Tinubu is already preparing Nunu Ribadu for 2031

What northern dominance are you talking about?

The same northern dominance Tinubu himself partnered with southwest to remove a southern president and supported the northern dominance for 8 years?

And then wants to return back the same dominance to the north in 2031?

Please explain to me what northern dominance Tinubu is actually fighting?

The females are free to reach their goals. Yes, the world is their oyster.

However, fairness and equity must apply to all genders. Nobody should reserve seats for the females in the national assembly.

Men and women are free to contest for elective positions. Nobody should get into elective positions because of their gender.

My children, please don't accuse anyone wrongly o, always have your evidence before you accuse someone.

Accusing someone wrongly is very bad for any ones career.

by trying to use feminine to victimize the other gender

These genZ girls have been breaking barriers with their kpekus since.

See wetin akpabio don cause.

Leave wetin dey under skirt E no gree now them don use am dey give motivational sermon.

They'll break barriers if only they'll depend on their brain to work out prosperity for themselves instead of their bodies....because am surprised how a girl that complained about NYSC allowance few months ago can suddenly afford a benz and nobody noticed her hustle both online or offline is amazing miracle which one trade can make possible

Honorable Kpekus of the National Assembly

If readers have daughters and nieces then they should be in full support of this change in direction. What we have now isn't working for the masses. Great to see Japan elect their first female leader recently.

Women best perform in the kitchen and za other room--- Bokhari

Break barriers, not Hymen.

APCNig:
By having four children for four different men?

She's wrong on this
Different papa

Please Young girls and women, do all you can to break barriers,but do not use your feminity as a weapon in any disguise,tankio

We don’t need you teaching our women bad morals please

The idea of western feminism is evil!

African feminism for example the Yoruba culture understands the role of women and respect them already and understands that everyone has their roles and value. We respect that fact already and not forcing western ideologies of rude uncultured women who turn to divorcees and single mothers

She dey form equal to man, no mislead our young girls ooo

Correct, Na So , Don't Ever Be Scared or Intimidated By Any 5£× Predators

Brendaniel:
Though she has her issues, but I will prefer her as senate president than almost all the men currently in the senate, she will do better challenging the evil in Aso rock and some of the ills of this Tinubu's administration.

Seems you are easily manipulated and swayed.

Theres nothing honorable about Natasha

Antoeni:
Correct, Na So , Don't Ever Be Scared or Intimidated By Any 5£× Predators

Very correct, and may our women not turn to blackmailers, and liars who accuse men wrongly of sexual assaults

May our women not weaponize feminism against men

You mean the present Nigerian girls?
The Genz Baddies or who?

The ones who are more concerned about sex, make-up and how to become a baby mama for some random guys?

I totally support you on this statement madam but which girls are you talking about? Are you talking about these ones who believe only men are created to solve their problems?

Are you talking about this ones coming to social media telling the world give me N10million and do me anyhow?

Are you talking about these lazy ones with no ambition full everywhere?

Madam first to do is to re-orinted our girls and tell them the truth to stop been lazy, stop advertising for "Simps: to solve their problems, to stop being online beggars, to stop being a follower of feminist whom all they live for is semi prostitution and called themselves feminist

Madam all you need to do is to advocate for change of attitude, believes, lifestyle of our girls their brain needs to be rebranded.